Uphill Tokyo 2020 battle for Lin Dan

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail SHINE, November 16, 2018
Adjust font size:
China's Lin Dan returns the shuttle during the men's singles first round match against Japan's Momota Kento at the BWF Hong Kong Open 2018 badminton tournament in Hong Kong, China, Nov. 14, 2018. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

China's Lin Dan said he expected an uphill battle to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics after crashing out in the first round of the Hong Kong Open on Wednesday.


The former world No. 1 had the backing of a raucous crowd against top-ranked Kento Momota, who was left flat-footed in the second game before wearing out Lin in the decider 21-19, 12-21, 21-15 in 76 minutes.


"I'm a bit sorry for the third game. There were two unforced errors that I made that changed the lead," Lin said afterwards.


It was Lin's third straight loss from four matches against Momota, who has been in searing form this year and is favorite to capture his fifth World Tour title for the year this week.


Lin, a gold medalist at both Beijing and London, is not counting out the prospect of a fifth Olympics appearance in 2020 but the 28th-ranked 35-year-old is guarded about his chances.


"It all depends because there are very many strong players in China. They're very strong so I have to be on top of them."


In the women's singles, China's Chen Yufei lost her first-round match 14-21, 21-10, 22-20 against 24th-ranked Pornpawee Chochuwong.


But Chinese Taipei's top-ranked Tai Tzu Ying, India's PV Sindhu and second seed Akane Yamaguchi made the final 16.


Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter